Machine for rolling tapered disks



8 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR HARRY H. J. HORN MACHINE FOR ROLLING TAPERED DISKS lll FIG.

Aug. 4, 1953 Filed Aug. 7, 1946 J. HORN ATTORNEY Aug. 4, 1953 H. J. HQRN MACHINE FOR ROLLING TAPERED DISKS 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. '7, 1946 INVENTOR HARRY J. HORN FIG. 4

M.7AL

ATTORNEY 4, 1953 H. J. HORN 2,647,423

MACHINE FOR ROLLING 'T'I-UERED DISKS Filed Aug. 7, 1946 l a Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR HARRY J. HORN BY 6M4 AA ATTORNEY Aug. 4, 1953 H. J. HORN I MACHINE FOR ROLLING TAPERED DISKS Filed Au '7, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 v INVENTOR HARRY J. HORN FIG. ll

AT TORNEX Aug. 4, 1953 H. J. HORN 2,647,423

MACHINE FOR ROLLING TAPERED DISKS Filed Aug. 7, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. I4 b ig INVENTO HARRY J. HORN ATTORNEY Aug Filed H. J. HORN MACHINE FOR ROLLING TAPEREID DISKS Aug. '7, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 [TH/52 I 0 'l M INVENTOR HARRY J. HORN (hum 6 ATTORNEY Aug. 4, 1953 H. J. HORN 2,647,423

MACHINE FOR ROLLING TAPERED DISKS Filed Aug. 7, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 FIG. l6 INVENTOR HARRY J. HORN ATTORNEY Aug. 4, 1953 H. J. HORN 2,647,423

MACHINE FOR ROLLING TAPERED DISKS Filed Aug. 7, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 iNVENTOR HARRY J. HORN (Ml- M4 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 4, 1953 MACHINE FOR ROLLING TAPERED DISKS Harry J. Horn, Lansing, Mich., assignor to Motor Wheel Corporation, Lansing, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application August 7, 1946, Serial No. 688,878

9 Claims.

This invention relates to the rolling of tapered disks, and more particularly to a novel method and machine for tapering the thickness of metal disks by enlarging the diameter thereof.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an eificient method of forming tapered disks which can be practiced by using a simple and inexpensive form of rolling mill. The manner of accomplishing this and other objects of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view, partly in section, of a rolling mill embodying the inven tion;

Figure 2 is a top view of the roller assembly shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of a portion of the machine of Figure 1, showing the platen and roll assembly in open position;

Figure 4 is a sectional view generally similar to Figure 3 but showing the platen and roll assembly in closed position;

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of a mating plate forming a part of the platen shown in Fi ure 1;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the disk supporting plate and driving pin shown in Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 'I--'| of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a sectional view of the platen and rolls of va modified form of the invention;

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on the line Ill-40 o-f Figure l;

Figure 11 is a schematic view showing the relative position of the disk and the rolls'before the rolling operation begins;

- Figures 12, 13 and 14 are schematic views showing the position and progressive effect upon the disk as the rolling operation proceeds;

Figure 15 is a front elevational view, partly in section, of a further modified form of rolling mill;

Figure 16 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a portion of the rolling mill of Figure 15, showing the platen and roll assembly in open position; and

Figures 1'7 and 18 are, respectively, bottom plan, and side elevational views of the roll assembly of the machine of Figure 15.

I The machine shown in Figure 1 is a hydraulic pressincluding a base I0, vertical frame members l I, a top frame member l2, a ram 13 mounttion upon their respective axes.

ed for vertical movement, and a carrier l4 sup ported upon the ram. The ram I3 is adapted to be moved vertically under hydraulic pressure, in a conventional manner. The action of the ram is controlled by a valve [5 which is operated by hand lever I6.

Suspended from the top frame I2 is a stationary supporting member I! within which is mounted for rotation a shaft l8 carrying a platen IS. The shaft 18 and the platen l9 are rotated by means of any suitable source of power, not shown, through a gear assembly shown at 29.

A pair of rolls 2| and 22 are supported by carrier Hi upon horizontal shafts for free rota- Ihe rolls are arranged with their axes radiallyv offset in relation to the vertical axis of the platen l9, and the two rolls are spaced circumferentially approximately apart (see Figures 2 and 11). The rolls 2| and 22 are also located in spaced relation to the vertical axis of the platen I9 and are arranged to cooperate with the platen in a manner to be described presently.

As here shown, the rolls 2| and 22 are tapered. That is, the circumference of each roll at the end nearest the axis of the platen is smaller than the circumference at the opposite end thereof. Otherwise, the diameter of each roll increases uniformly from what may be termed the inner end thereof to the outer end thereof. The amount of the increase is predetermined in relation to the amount of taper desired in the disk upon which the rolls operate. As the description progresses, it will become apparent that the rolls may be of uniform diameter throughout their axial extent and the platen may be tapered. However, as here shown, the rolls are tapered and the platen is fiat.

Also mounted upon the carrier I4 is a vertical shaft 23 having a disk supporting plate 24 and a disk engaging pin 25 at its upper extremity (see Figures 6 and 8). As best shown in Figure 3 and for reasons which will appear presently, a spring 38 is associated with the lower end'of shaft 23 and normally holds the shaft in-the upwardly extended position shown in Figures 1 and 3. Shaft 23 is mounted for free rotation aboutits,

vertical axis.

Disk engaging pin 25 is formed to the configuration shown in Figures 6 and 8. That is to say, the pin is of generally rectangular section with the top being bevelled vertically and circumferentially adjacent the corners as shown at 25c and 251). Pin 25 is of suficient height that it projects above the upper surface of a disk 26 when the latter is mounted upon plate 24 as shown in Figure 1. It will be understood that the disk 26 is provided with a central opening of a generally rectangular configuration adapted to receive pin 25. As shown in Figure 1, disk 28 is in the form of a blank of uniform thickness which is to be tapered.

Platen l9 has secured in a recess in the center thereof a plate 2'! (see Figure 2) The details of plate 27 are shown in Figures and 7. It is provided with a central opening 28 of size and shape to receive pin 25. The side walls defining the opening 28 are bevelled as indicated at Zla and 21b to permit a mating of the pin 25 with the opening 28, while one of the members is rotating and the other is stationary. In other words, the complementary bevelled surf-aces 25a and 25b of the pin and 27a and 27b of the plate permit the pin to be fed into the opening 28 while only one of the members is rotating. Once pin 25 is mated with opening 28, the pin 25 and platen 19 will rotate together.

In operation, the rolling mill is initially in the open position shown in Figures 1 and 3. Platen i8 is rotated at an appropriate speed by means of any suitable source of power through the gear assembly 2% and shaft 18. A disk blank 26, heated to an appropriate temperature, is mounted upon plate 24 with pin 25 extending through a central opening in disk 26. At this point it will be observed that disk 26 is out of contact with both the platen id and the rolls 2! and 22,

After the disk 26 has been mounted as shown in Figures 1 and 3., hydraulic pressure is applied to the ram 13 which causes the ram to move vertically upward until pin 25 engages opening 28 and disk 26 contacts platen l9. Thereupon, the rotary movement of the platen is imparted to the pin 25, shaft 23, plate 24 and disk 265. As the ram is continues to move upwardly, shaft 23. is depressed against the actinn of spring 36 until rolls 12.4 and 22 engage the under surface of the rotating disk 26. As the rol s contact the disk they are revolved about their axes by frictional engagement with the The amount of hydraulic pressure against ram .13 is appropriately regulated so as to "cause the roils 2.1 and 22 to force the metal of the disk radially outwardly. The rolls first engage the periphery of the disk and progressively engage the disk further inwardly as the periphery is thinned by flowing the metal of the disk radially outwardly.

During the rolling ope-ration jiblSll described, the rolling machine is in the closed position shown inFig-urel.

The rolling operation is of brief duration, the exact length of time depending upon the Original thickness or the disk, the amount of taper required, the temperature or the disk blank, the speed of rotation of the disk and the pressure applied against the disk by. the rolls. Satisfactory results have been obtained by heating a blank of as" thickness to a temperature :of .approximately .2000" rotating the blank at approximately 150 R. P. and applyin approximately 130 tons pressure to the rolls. The rolling operation lasts approximately b seconds. Tms resulted in an enlargement or" approximately 1 to the diameter of a disk which was initially of approximately .10 A1. diameter.

The position of the rolls 2! and .2 2 in relation to the disk 26 is indicated diagrammatically in Figure 11.. Figures 12. 13 and 14 diagrammatically illustrate the relation of one roll 22 to the disk as the rolling operation progresses, indicating the gradually increasing zone of contact between the roll and disk and the gradually widening area which has been rolled. The direction of rotation of the platen i indicated by the area in each of Figures 12, 13 and 14.

Figure 12 illustrates diagrammatically the disk 25 and roll 22 shortly after the rolling operation is begun. The relatively small rectangular area designated A is the area which has been completely rolled by roll 22 during the first pass of the disk against the roll. A small generally triangular area designated X is the zone of contact between the roll 22 and the disk. The rest of the disk shown in Figure 12 has not yet been touched by the roll.

Figure 13 designates the disk 26 and roll 22 after the first complete pass of the disk over the roll and after the second pass is started. The area designated B is the area which has been rolled during this pass. The area Y is in the zone of contact between the roll and disk, while the large annular area A is the area which was rolled during the previous pass of the roll.

Figure 14 illustrates the position of the disk and roll as the third pass is begun. Area 13 desig hates the area of the disk which was rolled during the previous pass. Area C designates the area rolled during the third pass of the roll, and area Z designates the zone of contact between the roll and disk.

The theoretical flow of metal of the disk in response to the pressure exerted by the roll 22 is lustrated in the zones designated X, Y and Z respectively. It will be apparent that because the axis of the roll 22 does not intersect the axis of the platen there is a component of force re sultin from the rotation of the disk and the pressure applied by the roll in a radially outward direction. Consequently, the disk is tapered radially outwardly adjacent its periphery and the diameter of the disk is at the same time enlarged.

After the rolling operation has been completed. the pressure in ram 13 is released and the machine parts return to the open position shown in Figures 1 and 2. The tapered disk may then be removed and a new blank may be installed and the operation repeated.

Figin'e 9 is a View similar to Figure 4 illustrating a slightly modified form of the invention. The only essential difierence between the two devices is that in Figure 9 the rolls are cylindrical and the platen is dished or tapered The rolling :mill shown Figure .9 includes a platen 4.0 and a pair of rolls Al. Platen 411.. as will be apparent from Figure 9, is very slightly dished upwardly a d toward the center. The rolls M are cylindrical. All other parts of the mill are the same as the mill previously described, and the rolling action of the rolls and the disk is also the same.

While theoretically satisfactory results could be obtained by use of a single roll, it has been found that in practice best results are obtained by the use of two or more rolls arranged as rolls 2! and 22 are herein shown and described.

A modified form oi rolling is illustrated in Figures 15 to .18.. The roll-ins mill shown in those figures utilizes three rolls, as mentioned the preceding paragrapnbut the manner of mounting them is different. In the rolling mill of Figures 15 to 18 the platen is below the work while the rolls are ahoye it.

The rolling mill shown in Figures 1.5. to 18 comprises a base 50., vertical frame members .51.,

pressure in a manner well known in the art. The movement of the ram is controlled by a valve 55 operated by a hand lever 56.

A support 51 is affixed to the base 50. The

support 51 carries a platen 58 having a shaft 59 rotatably mounted in the support by suitable bearings including bearings 60. A large bevel gear 6| iskeyed to shaft 59. The large gear BI is driven by a beveled pinion 62 attached to a drive shaft 63. The latter may be connected to any suitable source of power.

A disk supporting plate 64 is mounted in a recess in the center of the platen 58. The plate 64 is prevented from rotating relative to the platen 58 by a plurality of studs 65 fixed to the platen and loosely received in recesses 66 in the lower face of the plate 64. The disk supporting plate 64 is urgedupwardly by a spring 61 in a recess in shaft 59. The upward movement of the disk supporting plate is limited by cooperating shoulders 68 and 69 on the plate and platen, respectively.

In the center of the plate 64 is an upwardly projecting stud 10 having a plurality of radial projections H at the sides thereof, for a purpose which will appear presently.

The carrier 54 has a downwardly projecting bearing member 12 thereon, and three equidistantly spaced shaft supports 13. A shaft 14 extendsthrough each shaft support and into a recess in the outer wall of bearing member 12. Each shaft is fixedly connected to the corresponding shaft support. A tapered roll 15 is rotatably'mounted on each shaft by means of roller bearings 16. It will be noted that the axes of the shafts l4 and rolls 15 are not radially arranged relatively to the axis of the platen 58 but are spaced therefrom (see Figure 18).

A pressure plunger 1'! is rotatably mounted about a vertical axis in the bearing member 12. The pressure plunger is biased downwardly by a spring 18 in a recess above the plunger. Spring 78 is relatively heavy, at least heavier than spring 61. The lower end of the plunger 11 is recessed at 79 to receive the stud 15.

In operation the rolling mill is initially in the open position as shown in Figure 16. Platen 58 is rotated at an appropriate speed by the motor which rotates shaft 63 and the gears BI and 62. A disk blank 80, having a central hole to fit the stud Ill and projection H, and heated to the proper temperature is placed over the stud and onto the disk supporting plate 64. The disk 80 will immediately begin to rotate with the platen but is supported above the platen, so that it loses little heat thereto, by the plate 64.

Hydraulic pressure is applied to the ram by opening the valve to the space above the ram piston to permit fluid under pressure to force the ram 53 and carrier 54 downward. The pressure plunger 11 contacts the disk 80 and forces the latter down against the platen 58. When the pressure plunger 71 contacts the disk 80 the former will be forced to rotate also, which it is permitted to do in bearing member 12.

The ram will continue downward until the rolls 15 bear on disk 80 with a heavy pressure. During this last short movement the spring 18 will give to permit the plunger 11 to move upward so that the rolls 15 can bear on the Work.

The platen 58 and the disk 80 will, of course,

6 be rotated-beneath the rolls and will be tapered and increased in diameter by the rolls in much the same manner as in the rolling mill previously described.

It will be noted that in the rolling mill shown in Figures 15 to 18 there is no need to provide a positive driving connection between the stud 'm'and the pressure plunger as it is in the case of the parts 25 and 2'! previously described, because in the former the stud is continuously driven by the platen 58.

While the essential elements of a machine embodying the present invention have been shown in the accompanying drawings and described in these specifications, it has not been considered necessary to either show or describe the details of conventional elements, such as the construction of the ram [3, the mounting of the carrier I 4 upon its vertical guideways, or the construction of the bearings and shafts for supporting the rolls 2| and 22, and similar details, since they are all well known to those skilled in the art.

The scope of the invention is indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for rolling tapered disks comprising a disk-like platen mounted for rotation on an axis perpendicular to the plane of the platen, a plurality of rolls mounted for rotation on axes parallel to the plane of the platen, said rolls being disposed in spaced relation to the platen with their axes arranged in radially offset and circumferentially spaced relation to the axis of the platen, centering means positioned on, and movable along, the axis of said platen and for rotatably supporting a disk to be tapered upon an axis perpendicular to the plane of the platen in spaced relation to the platen and the rolls, means for moving the disk support axially of said platen, means for moving the rolls relatively toward the platen and maintaining the rolls in fixed spaced relation to the axis of the platen whereby to cause the platen to engage one face and the rolls to engage the opposite face of a disk positioned between the platen and the rolls, and means for imparting a rotary movement to the platen, the said rolls and platen being tapered relative to each other so that the distance between the said rolls and the said platen is greatest nearest the axis of said platen and decreases from said axis toward the circumferential edge of said platen corresponding to the taper desired in the disk to be rolled.

2. The rolling machine defined in claim 1 wherein the centering means for rotatably supporting a disk comprises a resiliently mounted shaft positioned between said rolls and yieldable axially of said platen.

3. The rolling machine as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said rolls tapers inwardly toward the axis of rotation of said platen.

4. The rolling machine defined in claim 3 wherein the platen is positioned beneath the rolls and the rolls are adjustable downwardly and axially of said platen into rolling relation with a disk positioned between the platen and the rolls.

5. The combination defined in claim 2 wherein the rolls are cylindrical and the platen is dished.

6. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said disk support is freely rotatably and is biased in a direction towards said platen.

7. The combination set forth in claim 1 where in said disk support is freely rotatable and is biased in a direction towards said platen, said rolls being positioned beneath said platen and being movable upwardly into rolling relation with a disk positioned on said disk support between said platen and rolls.

8. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said disk support is freely rotatable and is biased in a direction towards said platen, said rolls being positioned beneath said platen and being movable upwardly into rolling relation with av disk positioned on said disk support between said platen and rolls, said disk support projecting axially upwardly between said rolls and terminating at its upper end below the plane of, said platen when the platen and rolls are relatively spaced apart to permit positioning of an apertured disk over the upper end of said disk support, said upper end of said disk support being adapted to telescopically engage with said platen when said rolls are moved upwardly and including means on said platen and said upper end of said disk support forming a driving connection between said platen when said platen is rotated and said support is telescoped therewith.

9. A machine for rolling tapered disks comprising a frame, a disk-like platen member mounted on said frame for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the platen member, a plurality of roll members mounted on said frame for rotation about fixed axes positioned in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said platen, said roll members being arranged in radially offset and angularly spaced relation to the axis of the platen member, means supporting said rolls in fixed spaced relation to the axis of said platen, means supporting the said roll members on said frame for movement relative to said platen. and parallel to the axis of the platen member, a support mounted on said frame centrally of said platen member for limited movement axially relative to said platen member for supporting a disk for rotation about the axis of the platen member and in spaced relation to the roll and platen members, said support retreating axially inwardly of said platen member when said platen member and rolls are moved axially relatively toward each other into rolling engagement with the disk positioned therebetween, means connected to the support means for said rolls for causing relative movement of said platen and rolls toward each other whereby to cause the platen to engage one face and the rolls to engage the opposite face of a disk positioned between the platen and the rolls, and means connected to said platen member for imparting a rotary movement thereto, the said roll and platen being tapered relative to each other so that the distance between the said roll and the said platen is greatest nearest the axis of said platen and decreases from said axis toward the circumferential edge of said platen corresponding to the taper desired in the disk to be rolled. Y

HARRY J. HORN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 337,230 Bean Mar. 2, 1886 366,109 Hughes July 5, 1887 1,708,321 Otte Apr. 9, 1929 1,897,645 Swanson Feb. 14, 1933 2,334,879 LeJeune Nov. 23, 1943 2,406,219 Hight et a1 Aug. 20, 1946 

